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Anxiety

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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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Apricit123 Intrusive thouhts
  • replies: 7

I got so many intrusive thoughts everyday.. like I check ingredients in food I'm worried to take medication incase it has a different ingredient it's so frustrating and a scary place to be in I hate feeling like this

I got so many intrusive thoughts everyday.. like I check ingredients in food I'm worried to take medication incase it has a different ingredient it's so frustrating and a scary place to be in I hate feeling like this

adele90 Anxiety related to fear of heart attacks and strokes
  • replies: 9

Hi all, new to this. Thought it may help me talk, I suffer from sever anxiety all related to heart attacks and strokes. I'm 25 years old, generally live a healthy lifestyle. But my anxiety is taking over. I'm so scared I'm going to have a stroke or h... View more

Hi all, new to this. Thought it may help me talk, I suffer from sever anxiety all related to heart attacks and strokes. I'm 25 years old, generally live a healthy lifestyle. But my anxiety is taking over. I'm so scared I'm going to have a stroke or heart attack I have all the physical symptoms, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizzyness, blurred vision, sharp pains in my head etc I'm constantly looking in the mirror to see if my face is dropping, and constantly asking friends and family if I look weird, which i never am. I'm starting to fear being alone, and have started to hate driving alone. I always need to know what street I'm on and ALWAYS need to know where the nearest hospital is just incase. I'm barely sleeping, Is this story fimiliar to anyone else? If so any light or guidance on what to do would be great. Im really loosing it over here and it's just getting too much to handle. All my friends and family think it's a joke so I don't tLk about it to anyone I just sit in a panic of sweat constantly. I was recently told if you smell burning toast it means you are about to have a stroke, so naturally all I have been Smelling all week is toast. I'm really losing the plot here any words of wisdom would be great or advise on what I might be able to do. Have been to the GP for help, she sent me home and told me to relax. Obviously that is hard to do. Thanks for listening

Deeway Do you ever feel like your heart is weak?
  • replies: 7

My Anxiety makes me feel like my heart is so weak like it can't keep beating and I gamer an almost constant feeling of dizziness it's very scary and off-putting. I feel like I can't do anything by myself because I'm scared of fainting or collapsing w... View more

My Anxiety makes me feel like my heart is so weak like it can't keep beating and I gamer an almost constant feeling of dizziness it's very scary and off-putting. I feel like I can't do anything by myself because I'm scared of fainting or collapsing which hasn't yet happened so I'm not sure why this anxious feeling is so persistent. All I want is to get back to my normal life, this doom in my belly needs to go it's not welcome here! I do so well for a few weeks then if anything in life goes wrong I regress so much. Can others relate?

CourtneyJ Brainwashed by diet culture
  • replies: 5

I'm angry. Angry and confused. I've been overweight my entire adult life. And I've spent all of that time obsessing about it. Hating the way I look, hiding my body under big clothes and trying to find ways to lose weight. And the more restrictive I g... View more

I'm angry. Angry and confused. I've been overweight my entire adult life. And I've spent all of that time obsessing about it. Hating the way I look, hiding my body under big clothes and trying to find ways to lose weight. And the more restrictive I get my with my diet the more my instinct is to rebel against it and just eat everything I see. Constantly reading internet articles trying to find the magic bullet that will work. Wading through confusing and often contradictory diet advice from multiple sources (most of them totally unqualified to give advice). And I'm tired of all of it. I'm angry that I can't seem to let go of diet culture. I feel like I'm trapped inside it and I'll never get out, and I'll never be happy. I'm a 30 year old intelligent woman who should be able to apply logical thinking and reasoning to solve a problem. But I can't do that with my diet and weight. I just want to forget every piece of information I've ever consumed about diet and weight loss and free myself from this mental prison.

PsychedelicFur Autism & Anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, I’m really struggling. I quit my waitressing job of seven months just last week. It became too much with the unpredictable hours, demanding and challenging tasks, extremely loud noises at functions and bright lights. One of my supervi... View more

Hello everyone, I’m really struggling. I quit my waitressing job of seven months just last week. It became too much with the unpredictable hours, demanding and challenging tasks, extremely loud noises at functions and bright lights. One of my supervisors treated me poorly too. He grabbed me by my sleeve once and dragged me like a dog. He would also come and hug me from behind without my consent. And him and other workers would not take my autism seriously. they even said “everyone has a bit of autism.” And “when you become a Journalist you can write an article about folding napkins.” Eventually, I got the courage to leave. As I had to work ridiculously long hours and I found the socialising to be extremely detrimental to my mental health. Plus I would have to constantly mask my autism. It was deeply painful and problematic. I’m struggling with my autism and my anxiety right now. I feel like I don’t belong. I have cancelled two social events that were over last weekend because I simply did not have the energy to attend. I feel like such a failure because I quit my toxic place of employment and I did not attend two social events that I was meant to attend. Plus my dad recently got involved with a lady who was insensitive towards his depression and anxiety. And I have been worried about how detrimental that must’ve been for his psychological health. Lucky he stopped talking to her. And also my partner’s father said something really insensitive about my autism earlier last week. Which is making me feel uncomfortable and scared to speak to him now. I feel like I can’t go to him for guidance or support. My partner understands and says he will try to keep me separate from his father until I feel comfortable but I told him I didn’t want to make any dramas or hassles. I tend to not like confrontation or drama. I just feel so lost and stuck. I don’t know what else to do. PF

KERLIA Driving anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hello, recently ive been feeling pressured to get my licence. I got my learners licence a while ago and seeing all my friends get their P's, they keep asking me when I'm going to get mine, im stressed. I've done a few lessons with an instructor but I... View more

Hello, recently ive been feeling pressured to get my licence. I got my learners licence a while ago and seeing all my friends get their P's, they keep asking me when I'm going to get mine, im stressed. I've done a few lessons with an instructor but I'm still so scared to drive. Im feeling pressured because my licence is about to expire and my friends are all getting their P's. Everytime I start driving, I get so scared of needing to check everything and to not crash, I keep messing up my turns and parking. Before I drive, I get this pre anxiety of just the thought of driving. I don't know if anyone can relate to this?

June_Summer Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
  • replies: 3

I feel this so intensely like the world will end because perceived or real criticism of any kind. Always thought I needed to toughen up but apparently I have anxiety and RSD. Also I feel I am never going to get the right mental health support.

I feel this so intensely like the world will end because perceived or real criticism of any kind. Always thought I needed to toughen up but apparently I have anxiety and RSD. Also I feel I am never going to get the right mental health support.

hewieth14 Spiraling - how do I cope with it
  • replies: 4

I don't really know how to explain how I'm feeling. The best way to describe it was in a stream of consciousness thing I did. "I hate being stuck in my head. Someone once explained to me that it felt like a spiral. At first, you think nothing of it; ... View more

I don't really know how to explain how I'm feeling. The best way to describe it was in a stream of consciousness thing I did. "I hate being stuck in my head. Someone once explained to me that it felt like a spiral. At first, you think nothing of it; the spiral is large and loose. But, when you start to think more about it, the tighter it becomes, until it's around your neck, strangling every emotion out of you. It is dangerous for me to think like this because once I am in it, it is impossible to climb my way out." I tend to fixate on one single word, or one single sentence and become utterly obsessed with the ideas behind it. I dance, and it had been a good 2 months out of competing in my state when a girl told me about my rival. I was on a plane trip back from an interstate competition, in which I did win - but I felt as if I didn't dance well. "He is looking strong," she notified me. I didn't feel strong. I didn't feel as if I danced well. What does strong mean? Physically strong? Technique? Is he better than me? He is, isn't he? Thousands of thoughts were buzzing through my head and I honestly couldn't think, grasp or even decipher a single one of them. And I just felt exhausted by the time I arrived home, and then for the next 2 weeks. And then it all went away when I beat him at the next competition against him - by a lot. I had wasted all of my energy on something I didn't even need to be worried about. So basically, what I am asking is: Is there any way that I can stop obsessing over small, and possibly insignificant, ideas? Are there any ways to get out of the spiral once I'm in it?

Corn_L Social anxiety, trust issue, job hunting, financial hardship
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, background info: I was first suffered from social anxiety 7 years ago. I easily get anxious when I meet people who are loud-spoken, impolite/disrespectful. I made my first post last year regarding my driving anxiety. After that stressful... View more

Hi everyone, background info: I was first suffered from social anxiety 7 years ago. I easily get anxious when I meet people who are loud-spoken, impolite/disrespectful. I made my first post last year regarding my driving anxiety. After that stressful driving test, I took a break from full-time work. I could only work from home and did some one-off online jobs. Until November 2021, I was able to get a temp job and I worked full-time till March this year. I was great in those months. I was able to have face-to-face interactions and make new friends at different occasions. However, in late March, I got scammed and lost some money. And I felt like I can't trust anyone anymore. Since then, I became really alert. As I have completed my temp job contract, some of my workmate wanna know about my future plans. I no longer felt comfortable to discuss with them.And I can't take advice from anyone. In April, I had a big argument with my partner regarding job hunting. He said I just sit at home all day, not willing to work. I said I really need a break coz I lost my confidence. In all these years struggling with anxiety, I only rely on my own savings. I have never applied for any government support nor borrowing money. I'm independent, why can't I choose to have a break and look after myself? However, maybe what my partner said was right. Even I chose to take a break, I couldn't look after myself well. In April & May, I only hid in the house. All humans made me feel anxious. Even if I needed to post something at the post office, I struggled for 2 weeks until my partner forced me to get into the car. No matter who pressed the door bell, I would not open the door. What's more embarrassing? I don't want to shower or get changed. I didn't make/answer any phone calls. Just wanted to isolate myself. Recently, when I went to a checkup (physical health), I got told that I need to have some treatment & surgery. I have completed some minor treatment few days ago which costed me a fortune. So, I told myself these days, I must get a job. Otherwise I can't afford the medical expenses (I am not Australian citizen & I don't have medicare/other support). Unfortunately, I got scammed again, on Facebook. I worked & never get paid. I really hate myself for being so stupid. Can anyone relate to me? I am hard working and I want to be independent, but I just can't find a job that suits me. I don't want to be seen as a loser/lazy person. Please give me some advise? TIA

Mad1990 Over eater
  • replies: 1

Hello Lovely people; I feel like for the most part of it I eat generally well, but when I am stressed I over eat a lot and its not normal, I can not afford and also do not have time to do counselling. I am a student and I work full time and I have a ... View more

Hello Lovely people; I feel like for the most part of it I eat generally well, but when I am stressed I over eat a lot and its not normal, I can not afford and also do not have time to do counselling. I am a student and I work full time and I have a partner and family commitments (no children tho), and I am new in my role at work, and this is also my first year of uni, and I have also moved and will probably need to move again, so there has been a lot of change and a lot worry about failing, which in itself is pretty normal. But I always deal with my stress with food. I am a stress overeater, and I am just concerned for my health and was wondering if anyone could please give me some advice or tips, would be greatly appreciated. As I feel I can not handle my stress and food and constant worry about my weight, it stressing me out and I just can't handle all the stress in my life, which then results in me thinking about past trauma events, and it just a constant cycle of eating. My habit is ruled my emotions and certain triggers, and I understand that I have to deal with my emotions first and I feel like I am trying to do that but I am addicted with pushing my emotions down with eating and its disgusting . I was just wondering if there are any one out there who deals with their emotions with food, and how they got over the addiction to food. Thank you xxx